Muzzammil Hassan came to America from Pakistan 25 years ago. He became a successful banker in Buffalo, New York, near the famed Niagara Falls.While he and his wife were happy to be in the United States, they were upset by the negative perceptions of Muslims, and particularly how this perception might affect their children.
That is how they came up with the idea of Bridges TV. Mr. Hassan’s wife challenged him to start it.
“I had no background in television. I didn’t know anything about TV. Her comment was, ‘you have an M.B.A. (masters degree in business) why don’t you write a business plan?’”
And so he did. He quit his job at the bank and for the next two to three years worked almost non-stop in developing an English language television network that offers news and entertainment for Muslims.
Mr. Hassan hopes Bridges TV lives up to its name by uniting American Muslims and by helping non-Muslims overcome the negative images they may have of both Muslims and Islam.
Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband -- an influential member of the local Muslim community -- reported her death to police Thursday.So “negative perceptions” of Islam has failed.Police identified the victim as Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37. Detectives have charged her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder.
"He came to the police station at 6:20 p.m. [Thursday] and told us that she was dead," Orchard Park Police Chief Andrew Benz said late this morning.
Muzzammil Hassan told police that his wife was at his business, Bridges TV, on Thorn Avenue in the village. Officers went to that location and discovered her body.
Muzzammil Hassan is the founder and chief executive officer of Bridges TV, which he launched in 2004, amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light.
The killing apparently occurred some time late Thursday afternoon. Detectives still are looking for the murder weapon.
"Obviously, this is the worst form of domestic violence possible," Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said today.
Authorities say Aasiya Hassan recently had filed for divorce from her husband.
"She had an order of protection that had him out of the home as of Friday the 6th [of February]," Benz said.
Muzzammil Hassan was arraigned before Village Justice Deborah Chimes and sent to the Erie County Holding Center.
7 people have spoken:
Muslims are best portrayed in the light of an infrared gunsight. They aren't compatible with the rest of the world.
Just goes to show that the old saying "you can't polish a turd" is right. As long as they continue to blindly follow the koran, they will always be portrayed as un-educated medieval savages, because they are doing what their book tells them, there are no other ways about it, it is an absolute.
Well said Tom.
This isn't about religion people, it's about an ignorant, patriarchal jackass who lost control. The Qur'an does not instruct on men killing women. This is a gender -based phenomena that is called DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!! Now, what should be done with him is still the question before us. Perhaps behead him?
To say this about being a Muslim is completely disrespecting this poor woman and the horrible thing that befell her.
All victims of domestic violence deserve better than to further victimize them to place blame on things like religion, lost jobs or affairs.
It may be easier to just dismiss this as a crazy person pumped up on religious fervor but that will only allow this to happen again, as the real issues and truths are being overlooked and swept under the rug.
Domestic violence is about control, power and entitlement. Offenders will use a lot of excuses to justify their behavior, religion not being one that is a new story.
You can twist anything around to you point of view and I truly hope this man did not twist his religion around to it, as Islam does not allow for anything remotely like this.
If this man did kill his wife, he is guilty of murder according to Islam, not the second degree murder that he is being charged with in criminal court in New York.
According to his own professed faith, he is now eligible for the death penalty he so rightly deserves if he did commit this act that he is charged with.
Their are many problems in this world but there is one factual truth that is consistent with terrorism and disregard for life. I am sure that the Koran or the Islam religion does not advocate these practices. It would be racist to say so. But it is true to disclose the fact that 99.9% of these occurrences are performed by people who practice Islam and or read the Koran.
We have lived in Orchard Park for almost 30 years. Like many communities, we have our share of public safety concerns. However, this brutal act is beyond anything in living memory. All indications are that he did behead his wife, although the courts will have their say. Can anyone explain the cultural AND religious aspects of Islam that lead to this behavior worlwide? Beheading seems particularly common form of exrpression for Muslims.
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